Pedors Orthopedic Blog

If you are diabetic, taking care of your feet is critical. By taking just a minute or two every day to check your feet can make the difference in saving a foot from amputation. For diabetics the loss of sensation in the foot which occurs in about 7 of every 10 diabetics often means that the body cannot detect if there is, for example, a stone or a pebble in the shoe that can lead to a wound which if left untreated can lead to an ulceration and ultimately an amputation. Another common cause of trauma is poorly fitted or non friendly diabetic footwear that may have internal seams that can cause rubbing or an abrasion. Full contact molded diabetic insoles minimize sheer and abrasion on the plantar surface of the foot and can also help minimize the risk of trauma.

Daily self exams are the best way to minimize the incidence of damage and take only a couple of minutes.

“Of all diabetes-related complications, a serious foot ulcer and subsequent amputation might be the most preventable with proper care and vigilance in checking the feet at least once a day for small cuts and other abrasions,” said Troy J. Boffeli, DPM, FACFAS, a Minneapolis-based foot and ankle surgeon speaking for the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons. “Even those with good control of their blood sugar can experience foot ulcers, especially if neuropathy, a frequent diabetes complication, has caused decreased feeling on the bottom of their feet.”Foot problems are not an inevitable consequence of diabetes. The risk can be lessened significantly by following a few simple precautions:

• Keep your blood sugar under control to help minimize cardiovascular and blood circulation problems
• Lose weight, don’t smoke and adhere to prescribed dietary, medication and exercise regimens
• At least once a day, examine your feet for cuts and other small wounds you may not feel
• Never walk barefoot, outdoors and indoors
• Cut nails carefully - straight across and not too short; never trim corns and calluses yourself
• Wash your feet every day in lukewarm water; dry carefully
• Choose comfortable shoes with adequate room for the toes
• Wear clean, dry, non-bulky socks; change daily
• Shake pebbles or bits of gravel out of your shoes before wearing
• Seek treatment from a foot and ankle surgeon if minor cuts and sore spots don’t seem to be healing